Here as promised, the summary of the Cheeky annual 1979. Artists I cannot fully identify will have no name after the artist credit.
Publisher: IPC Magazines/Fleetway Annuals
Released to U.K. newsagents in September 1978
Distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Gordon and Gotch. Released November 1978
Total Number of pages: 128
My Copy printed by New Interlitho S.p.a., Milan, Italy
unusual copyright on page 127: ©1978, Martspress, Ltd.
General notes: The very first Cheeky Annual with Cheeky and the gang. The book follows in the same vein as the weekly, the difference being that we follow Cheeky on a monthly basis (a trait which would continue for at least the next two annuals). All of Cheeky’s friends and foes that appeared during 1978 would appear at least once in this issue (except, maybe for Doodle Doug, who would make his debut the following year) while others would make their final appearances during this annual (Nosey Nora (in “The Girls” section) and Libby, who would end up giving Cheeky his last headache in August.) Libby would continue to appear in Cheeky Weekly until at least November 1978.
Running Gag: Baby Burpo receives a pogo stick for Christmas and wreaks havoc during the course of the annual.
Regular Strips: The Burpo Special, Mustapha Million, The Skateboard Squad (from next year, they would be known as “The Speed Squad”), 6 Million Dollar Gran, “The Girls”, James Bold, Creepy Sleepy Tales, Oscar’s feature film.
Special: Baby Burpo Strikes!
Others (including reprints from Buster and other comics): Bam, Splat and Blooie (Buster), Cocky Doodle, Ringer Dinger, Biddy’s Beastly Bloomers (Shiver and Shake), Cartoon Gallery, Soggy the Sea Monster (Shiver and Shake), Moon Loon.
Cover: Cheeky and Walter Wurx are gettng the decorations up, but the “Happy Xmas” sign seems to be missing a certain letter. Art: Frank McDiarmid(?)
Page 2: This book Belongs to… Sez Cheeky. Art. Frank McDiarmid.
Pages 3-6: January With Cheeky – Cheeky helps solve Sherlock’s latest mystery. Also appraring this month: Knock-Knock Door, Oi! (The Manhole Man), Louise, Herman the Traffic Warden, Bump-Bump Bernie, Baker’s Boy and Sherlock. Art: Frank McDiarmid.
Page 7: Bam, Splat and Blooie: Splat wants to play Croquet with Blooie, with Blooie as the ball. Art:
Page 8: Cocky Doodle – The wiley rooster plans to get a feed at the zoo. Art:
Pages 9-11: Mustapha Million - Mustapha has a cold, so he can’t go out and play with his friends. But Mustapha has other plans. Art:
Pages 12-15: February with Cheeky – Cheeky discovers Granny Gumdrop’s latest cosy while avoiding the nappied terror (Burpo). Also apparing this month: Gloomy Glad, Posh Claude, Sid the Street Sweeper, Crunching Chris, Milkie, Auntie Daisy (the school Meals Lady) and Jogging Jeremy. Art:
Pages 16-19: The Skateboard Squad – The squad evens the score in a one-sided basketball game. Art: Mike Lacey
Pages 20-23: March with Cheeky – Cheeky asks Teacher if he can visit the staff room. Teacher nixes that idea very quickly as the following image proves:
Also appearing this month: Petula, The Spiv, Walter Wurx, Ursula the Usherette and Six-Gun Sam
Libby Comes a Cropper #1: Libby’s first attempt to clobber Cheeky this year ends in utter failure as she trips over some potholes – Caused by Ursula breaking up the pavement walking. Art for this month Frank McDiarmid(?)
Page 24: Ringer Dinger (in Putting on the Style) Mum’s iron has gone on the blink, but Dnger’s magic phone (which always rings the wrong number) ends up with another kind of iron. Art: Terry Bave?
Page 25: Biddy’s Beastly Bloomers – The debut of the plants with a devious life of their own. Art:
Pages 26-29: Six Million Dollar Gran – Sick and tired of the cold, Gran is sent on an assignment – On the North Pole! – Art: Nigel Edwards.
Pages 30-31: Oscar’s Feature film – Robin Hood – Or How not to make a film on the legend of this famous outlaw. Art: Jack Clayton(?)
Pages 32-35: April with Cheeky – Another case solved by Cheeky and Sherlock (and not of the mystery kind). Also appearing this month: Lily Pop, Dan-Dan, the Lavender Man, Do-Good Dora, The Vicar, Knock-Knock Door, Gunga Drain and Oscar. Art: Frank McDiarmid
Pages 36-37: Cartoon Gallery – A Collection of one panel gags. Art by Sid Burgon.
Page 38-39: Baby Burpo Strikes (Part1) Baby Burpo takes over the annual (for a little while). Art Frank McDiarmid
Page 40: Soggy the Sea Monster – Life for Soggy is interrupted by a submarine. Art: Robert Nixon
Page 41: Ringer Dinger (in “It’s A Dogs Life”) – When Dinger tries to ring up for a new woofer for his stereo, he brings up a different kind of woofer. Art. Terry Bave?
Pages 42-45: May with Cheeky – For once, the Bakers boy (from Burnit and Scorchit) finally gets his revenge on Cheeky. Also appearing this month: Gloomy Glad, Oi (The Manhole Man), The mystery Telephone caller, Bump-Bump Bernie, Granny Gumdrop, Yikky-Boo amd Sid the Street Sweeper – Art: Frank McDiarmid.
Pages 46-49: The Girls – The tradition begins in getting Cheeky out of the way so that they can tell some jokes.
Libby Comes A Cropper #2: Smashing a sign over Ursula the Usherette was not such a good idea (it had no effect on her, of course). I have a feeling that if Ursula had got hold of her (she ends up chasing her), whe wouldn’t be back for her third and final appearance in the August section. Art: Frank McDiarmid
Pages 50-55: Moon Loon – The story of some British kids in their space race to the moon. Art: Tom Patterson?
Page 56: All Snails are Alike – the first of two puzzles this year. Art Frank McDiarmid?
Pages 57-60: June with Cheeky – Summer’s here and will Cheeky get through this month without getting tricked by Louise (don’t be silly!). Also appearing this month: Herman the Traffic Warden, Milky, The Mechanic, Walter Wurx, Jogging Jeremy, Posh Claude and Auntie Daisy. Art:
Pages 61-63: Mustapha Million – Mustapha helps his mates get fit for for the soccer game. Art: Joe McCaffrey?
This concludes part 1 of my summary of the Cheeky Annual of 1979, I will return later today or tomorrow for the conclusion.
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